UL AWM Style 3172 is a single conductor with extruded insulation and a non-extruded covering, defined under UL Subject 758. The conductor is insulated with extruded silicone rubber at a 30 mils minimum average wall thickness, then covered with one or more fibrous braids of glass or aramid conforming to the same covering specification as Type SF-2 fixture wire. The Style is rated 200°C maximum at 600 Vac across a conductor range of 26 AWG to 18 AWG, in solid or stranded construction. The UL Style file states the use as internal wiring of appliances.
The braid is the defining structural feature of this Style — it is what separates UL 3172 from the bare-silicone Styles at the same temperature and voltage class, and it is a required part of the construction rather than an option. Because the braid is applied over the silicone insulation, the finished outer diameter of a UL 3172 construction is larger than a comparable bare-silicone wire at the same AWG, and that difference should be checked against the routing clearance and termination hardware in the intended assembly before the construction is fixed.
UL 3172 Construction and Ratings
| UL Style | 3172 |
| Construction | Single conductor with extruded insulation and non-extruded covering |
| UL Subject / Section | 758, Section 3 |
| Temperature rating | 200°C maximum |
| Voltage rating | 600 Vac |
| Conductor range | 26 AWG – 18 AWG, solid or stranded |
| Insulation material | Extruded silicone rubber |
| Insulation thickness | 30 mils (0.76 mm) min average / 27 mils (0.69 mm) min at any point |
| Covering | One or more glass or aramid braid fibrous coverings; same covering specification as Type SF-2 fixture wire |
| Flame rating | Horizontal flame per the UL Style file; VW-1 vertical flame testing available by confirmed construction and agreed order requirement |
| Marking | General, per UL Subject 758 marking requirements |
| Use per UL Style file | Internal wiring of appliances |
26–18 AWG Conductor Options
The UL Style range is 26 AWG through 18 AWG, in solid or stranded construction. Both conductor forms are within the Style scope; the choice is normally driven by how the lead is handled during assembly and by the termination method used at each end.
Values such as strand count, strand diameter, finished outer diameter and conductor resistance are properties of a specific manufactured construction rather than of the UL Style itself, so they are confirmed at quotation rather than published as fixed figures here. The table below sets out what needs to be settled before an order can be placed.
| Order parameter | Confirmation status |
|---|---|
| AWG size | Within the UL Style range of 26–18 AWG; specify at enquiry |
| Solid or stranded | Both within the UL Style scope; specify at enquiry |
| Conductor material or plating | Bare or tinned copper are construction options, not UL Style requirements — subject to quotation and certified-scope confirmation |
| Braid covering | Glass or aramid; number of braid layers to be specified at enquiry |
| Colour | Confirmed against production capability at quotation |
| Finished dimensions | Confirmed for the ordered construction; braid layers affect outer diameter |
| Wire marking | Confirmed within the applicable certified scope before order acceptance |
| Packaging | Spool length, reel format or cut-to-length; specify at enquiry |
| Required documents | Specify at enquiry; availability confirmed for the ordered construction |
Appliance Internal Wiring Use
The UL Style 3172 file defines the use as internal wiring of appliances. That statement is the boundary within which this product is supplied and should be specified.
Whether a particular UL 3172 construction is suitable for a given installation is not settled by the Style rating alone. It depends on the intended equipment, the routing conditions along the full wire path, the termination method, and the specific construction ordered — including the conductor form, the number of braid layers and the resulting finished dimensions. Suitability must be evaluated by the buyer for the intended equipment and confirmed through the equipment’s own evaluation. UL 3172 is not building wire, field wiring, or general external power cable, and should not be specified for those roles.
UL Marking and Order Documentation
UL 3172 is supplied as a UL Recognized Component — file on record. Only products bearing the applicable UL Mark should be represented as covered products.
UL-marked production, the actual marking applied, the construction produced and the supporting documents that accompany a shipment are all confirmed for the specific order within the applicable certified scope before the order is accepted. This confirmation should be completed at the quotation stage, particularly where the construction requested has not previously been produced or where the buyer’s own equipment evaluation depends on specific marking or documentation. RoHS and REACH documentation is available on request where applicable to the order.
Related Silicone AWM Styles
The full range of this Style is available under the UL 3172 silicone fiberglass wire category. Two adjacent silicone Styles are commonly compared against it: UL 3135 (200°C / 600 Vac, 26–12 AWG, extruded silicone rubber with no braid, use stated as internal wiring of appliances where totally enclosed) and UL 3122 (200°C / 300 Vac, 26–16 AWG, extruded silicone rubber with lacquered braid, 15 mils minimum average wall). The differences that drive selection between these three are the voltage class, the conductor range, the insulation wall, and the type of covering — each should be matched against the actual design requirement rather than treated as interchangeable.
The wider ranges are available under Silicone Rubber Wire and AWM Wire.
Request a UL 3172 Wire Quote
Send the following with your enquiry so the construction can be confirmed against the applicable certified scope before quotation:
- AWG size
- Solid or stranded construction
- Requested conductor material or plating
- Glass or aramid braid requirement, including number of layers
- Colour
- Quantity
- Packaging format
- Wire marking requirement
- Required order documents
- A concise description of the intended appliance internal-wiring use
